Why September is a great time to apply for a new credit card

September is a great month. The summer heat is cooling off, football season is starting again and parents are enjoying some peace and quiet in the house after kids go back to school.

It’s also a great time to apply for credit cards. Here’s why.

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Why the timing of credit card applications is important

Good reasons to apply for a credit card anytime include earning a big sign-up bonus, pursuing elite status with a hotel or airline and taking advantage of perks like extended warranty protection or even reimbursement for your Global Entry application fee. However, the timing of when you apply for credit cards is also important.

POIKE/GETTY IMAGES

If you have a large purchase coming up, you can easily complete the spending required for a sign-up bonus. You could, for example, pay to remodel your kitchen or cover this semester’s tuition for your college student. If you know you have something with a big price tag coming up, then now is a great time to apply for a credit card. Conversely, for people who don’t have these large expenses coming up, it can be difficult to know when they will spend enough money to earn a big welcome bonus without overspending or creating debt.

Why you should apply for a new credit card in September

Think about what’s coming up within the next three months. Many families will be shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday at the end of November. There’s holiday shopping in December. You likely have things to pay for with your child being back in school now, such as after-school activities or clubs. And you may be buying Halloween costumes in the second half of October.

The holidays are just around the corner. GOODPONG/GETTY IMAGES

These upcoming expenses fall into the natural cycle of our lives every year, so you might as well use them to earn a big stash of points and miles. Most bonus offers for new credit card applicants require you to spend a certain amount of money “within three months” or “within 90 days” of opening the account. Once you meet the minimum spending requirement, you can then use those points and miles to travel for free or at a massive discount next year.

A great option to consider is the Citi Premier® Card, which is currently offering its highest-ever welcome bonus. With a low $95 annual fee, you’ll earn a big 80,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar ongoing on air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout), which are categories people tend to spend a lot on during the holidays.

Related: How my family of 4 uses points and miles to maximize our travel experiences

Bottom line

There are many reasons why I love the beginning of fall. It may surprise you that I put “great time to apply for a new credit card” on the list of things to like about September, but it’s true. You’re likely within a window of time where you have a lot of spending coming up for holiday gifts. You could use those to earn a welcome bonus on a new credit card, if you apply now and put those purchases on your new card.

For some inspiration on which cards to apply for, check out:

The best increased card offers to sign up for right now
The best credit cards of September 2022
18 cards currently offering sign-up bonuses of 100,000 points or more
Credit card sign-up bonuses you can earn with $1,000 or less in spending

Featured photo by Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com.